New Ulm weekly review., 1887-09-21

firmly on his financial feet again, for
it would have enabled him to bid de
fance to certain Jew money lender
who held more of his paper. than he
cared to think of. Besides, he really
admired Mrs. Somers, add it enraged
him to see her show this marked pref
erence for Brandon
Meanwhile tie latter, in serene un-
consciousness Of the wrath he was
rousing in two manly boson1s, was
thoroughly enjoying himself. The old
adage did not hold good for once; he
found three excellent company. He
admired both his fair companions,
and their all but open rivalry lent q
delightful piquancy to their conyersa.
tlon. Each was so ANXIOUS to out.
shine the other that their talk was
almost brilliant, and little Fitz
was kept we'll amused. Like many
men who are not remarkable for wit,
he admired women who could skillful-
ly use that essentially feminine weap-
on, the tongue; nothing charmed him
more than:a ready retort or neat
epigram; and even satire, ifnot leveled
against himself, pleased him.
ACbO DOCA 1ClulCS lltu
to secure him for an hours chat;it was
unfortunate that the hopes of both
should be fulfilled and yet baHed.
Minna wished to have him all to her.
self;it was really most provoking that
Clementina's S wishes clashed with hers.
"Are y ou going to Mrs. Eaton's this
afternoon? asked the latter, in. the soft
lisping tones her friends stigmatized as
"absurdly affected" but which many
people thought charming.
"Yes-that is if you and Mrs. Des-
mond will be there" " replied the gallant
little man promptly.
Mrs. Somer's blue eyes cIouded.
This was not all what she wanted.
Minna's face brightened; evidently
Brandon did not care much for dear
Clementina's society.
eyes, .Ishall certainly co." shesaid,
shedding her brightest smile on Fitz.
II thought, Clementina, you meant to
drive out to Richmond to call on our
Lady Merryweather," she added
sweetly, at the same time darting a
half-defiant glance across at Clemen.
tina.
ITO Richmond" echoed the other,
arching her delicate eyebrows; .'sthe
dust would be simply intolerable, and
old Lady Merryweather is my aver
sion. Besides never like to miss one
OF Mrs. Eaton's matinees. You know
now dote on music
What a fb!" thought Minna. ri
don't believe she knows Rule Britain
MIA from the Dead March in Saul. ~
But she made no audiable remark,
and the three arranged to meet later
at Mrs. Eaton's.
Clementina had acharming little
house in Park street, and she prided
herself greatly on the artistic ar
rangement of her rooms. Her estab-
lishment was small, but the servants
were admirably drilled and kept up
to the mark by a young lady-a
cousin-who acted as a sort OF hum
BILE companion to the fair widow.
Indeed, much of the credit Mrs. Som
ers received for perfect taste, both in
personal and household adornment,
should have been placed to this oung
lady's account.
On returning from her matutinal
airing in the Row, Clementina was not
IN the best OF tempers, aud Mary Grey
had rather a bad time of it. Every
thing was wrong; the outlets at lunch
con were pronounced uncatable, the
claret corked, the flowers faded, and
the lap,dog's condition anything but
what it should be.
Fortunately Mary had the command
OF temper proper to dependent and
poor relation; she listened to all the
reports in silence and with eyes meek
ly downcast, and afterward went
through her customary duty o. dress
Ing her patror ess, for Mrs. Somers
kept no maid; Mary was more skilful
and so much cheaper than the ordi-
nary run OF Abigails; without evincing
scintilla Of the wrath that was
smouldering in her bosom.
But when the lady had departed, ar
rayed in full war-paint and feathers,
as the irreverent Miss Grey put it, the
humble companion performed a sort
OF pas d'extase round the room, look
ed at herself in the glass-she was
very pretty, for her grey
eyes were wonderfully bright and
expressive,s and her complexion was
simply perfect shook her fist at the
lap-dog, sang a snatch of a popular
French chansonette, and finally sub
sided into the most comfortable easy
chair in the room, and drew from her
pocket a letter, which she read more
than once.
"Ah, my dear cousin Clementina, !"
she said aloud, smiling maliciously, as
she carafnllv refo11e1 tho lottor on1
put it back into her pocket; ':you are
very we'll in your way, tolerably good
looking, when en- grande tenue, but
not clever.
There's a great deal more on your
head than in it. Why, you are net
even clever enough to
Here she paused, and queer smile
futtered over her rosy lips.
"Well, we'll! but confess / should
like to balance the social scales more
JUSTLY" she mused thoughtfully, trac-
ing out the pattern OF the carpet
with hor ~, l0 <liv, y